![]() ![]() ![]() Many of the wisest, the wealthiest, the busiest, and the strongest, have served their generation, and are now no more but their works will be memorable to future generations. ![]() During the last fifty years great changes have taken place very few who took an active part in the construction, execution and opening of this enterprising work are now left. The Jubilee of this unique railway recalls and revives many interesting associations and reminiscences. On the 27th of September, 1825 (fifty years ago), the patriarchal railway was first opened for commercial purposes, and was the precursor of these gigantic and stupendous works which have since been executed, and have revolutionised the world. It is Jubilee year of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway - the first public railway in the world. The year 1875 will be memorable in the annals of railway history. The following sketch of a North Country worthy is from the pen of one of the few survivors of the industrial band who were employed in making or inaugurating the first passenger railway.Īt a time when reminiscences of 1825 are endued with more than a passing interest, it has been thought that not a few will be glad to possess an authentic record from personal recollection of one of the earliest of our now numerous railway engineers. THE RAILWAY JUBILEE A RAILWAY ENGINEER OF 1825 īEING A SHORT OUTLINE OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE LATE (Left: Portrait of John Glass that once hung in the Railway Institute, now part of the National Railway Museum's collection) The second is an address Glass wrote to present to an assembly of the Etherley Mechanics Institute on New Year's eve 1849 in which he speaks of the positive influence of such Institute on the attitutde of working men of the day. The first was written in 1875 as part of the Railway Jubilee celebrations, and tells of the life of Thomas Greener, one of the great characters of the Brititsh railway pioneering era, and of whom Glass was acquainted first-hand. The pamphlet was placed on sale at railway stations and booksellers. Toward the end of his life he was the station-master at Shildon. Glass was, when he died in the 1880s, said to have prior to his demise been the oldest living railway worker in the world having been involved in the Stockton & Darlington Railway from its earliest days. Here we have two transcripts of pamphlets written by John Glass, the Institute's longest serving president. ![]()
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